Finding Joy

A career break update

It is just a week shy of the 3-month mark of my career break (Jan 18 is the official day). It’s been a whirlwind of time, definitely not slow, as I had feared when debating whether a career break was best for me. So, how have I been filling my time?

First and foremost, rest. I only set my alarm clock when I have a morning appointment. Otherwise, I sleep until my body tells me it’s time to wake up (or my cats; it’s often a race!). While I didn’t realize it when I started, this was the first step to bringing myself into balance. And strangely, while I did “sleep in” a few days, and still do occasionally, after the initial ‘catch up’ on sleep, I usually wake up around 6 am and feel refreshed when I do wake. Note, while I may wake up at 6 am, I indulge in a fair amount of “hurkle durkling” and don’t leave the comfort and warmth of my blankets for about another hour. I spend that hour reconnecting with the world - reading emails, Substack posts, my carefully curated social media feed, and sending good morning texts (which I do set up for delayed delivery - I don’t expect everyone is ready to hear from me before 8!)

The next nugget of joy is my morning coffee. I make cold brew at home mostly because I am still in my sleepwear and too lazy to get dressed. But the routine of mixing cold brew with milk and making cold foam to top my beverage brings me joy and peace. I use my special ‘coffee glasses’ and reusable straws. In the end, it is the joy of making this myself and the aesthetics of my coffee that makes me smile.

Then, my day is filled with projects of my choosing that move me toward the goals I have set for myself. I am on a mission to declutter my home, so I feel a sense of accomplishment with each cupboard and nook that I clear. I am also two-thirds of the way through my SomaYoga Therapy TT-200 certification, so I may spend a couple of hours on homework or online yoga sessions. This week, I even completed my in-house practicum and led my first public SomaYoga class!

I have been building better habits, including self-care, self-reflection through journaling, daily movement, and mindful eating, which includes the joy I find in cooking for myself.

And time with friends! Because my schedule is flexible, I can meet with friends as their schedule allows—lunches, afternoon activities, or evening get-togethers. I spent one day having virtual coffee with a couple of friends who were very influential in my work life, crafting with ladies with whom I built a friendship at work, and then meeting new friends at my SomaYoga class in the evening. On other days, I may spend time in nature with the circle of humans I am connecting with through Wander Women’s Midwest Bite-Sized Adventures.

Are all my days full of nonstop fun? No. Some days, I feel isolated and maybe a little bored. Usually, I can address this by going for a walk outside or spending time with a book. I have the time and freedom to examine these feelings and find their roots, so if needed, I can make a change to my habits. And even if there isn’t a ‘quick fix’, I know these feelings appeared even when I worked 40-hour weeks. But then I did not have the energy to sit with them and understand them, energy I now have.

I am extremely thankful for this time to slow down, re-energize, and refocus. I am learning to stop pushing myself so hard that I became burned out. I am learning to relax and find the spots of joy in my day that I can hold onto, no matter what the future might bring.